Tag: money sense

Today, take time to think about what you are spending money on. Do you buy things outside of paying your bills? You may be surprised to find out how much extra money you actually have.

When you are struggling to make ends meet, buying a $5 dollar Starbucks, a pack of cigarettes, or a bottle of wine can possibly add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year and quite possibly be the reason why you are struggling to begin with, think about it.🤔

Make a short-term goal to eliminate this thing or activity that is costing you the little bit of extra money you may have. If you get your nails done once every two weeks, try for one month to save that money and put it away. In only a short time, you’ll realize that you actually have extra money that you can save, it’s a matter of, if you really want to.

Go on a money diet. Make a goal of a few weeks or a month. Eliminate everything extra that you spend money on that is not a necessity. This is a great challenge, even for myself, but doing this on the regular basis will help you build up to saving for a larger financial goal.

Track your money, become aware of what you actually to spend. You can do this! It just takes a little bit of time and discipline.

Emotional stress can negatively contribute to the way you spend and budget money. When I am stressed, I tend to buy fast food everyday. This is definitely not a good financial habit. Is there anything you impulsively spend money on when you’re stressed?

A few things you can do when you’re stressing to avoid impulsively spending money, take the money that you want to spend and put it into a savings or a money bucket. You can also go to the grocery store and purchase staple items for your home that you will eventually need. I do this sometime when I really just want to spend some money and you always need groceries right? At least that’s my way of justifying it. LOL😉

The biggest advice I can give about impulsively spending when you’re stressed is to get to the root of the problem. Find out why you are stressing and why that stress makes you want to spend money. There are many reasons that people stress; family problems, physical health issues, mental health issues, boredom, etc.

Take time to get to know yourself. Know what you like, what you don’t like, and what you are or aren’t willing to accept in your life. Doing this what help you recognize the issue and find a solution to your stress.

Children should be taught how to be responsible. They learn from things they see. Often, if parents are financially irresponsible, the children will become financially irresponsible. If they are taught the value of money, and how to earn it, they will better understand the responsibility of having and keeping it.

Below, I have included a responsibility chart. It is a little different from a normal chore chart, this chart more so helps teach basic responsibility for children.

Teaching children to be responsible shows them that you not only care about their well-being now but you also care about their future. Giving a child chores provides the opportunity for them to learn what it takes to maintain a home. Below is a list of age-appropriate chores for children. I love this list because it helps me keep my kids on track with chores that they are capable of completing.

I’m a firm believer that teenagers should be employed. This is the last chance prior to adulthood that can help them understand the reality of the next step in their lives. Below is a list of companies that hire teenagers. This list varies from state to state and Country to Country, but it gives you a head start on helping your children find employment.

1. Old Navy – Age:16 (Online App)

2. StarBucks – Age:16 (Paper App)

3. Hollister – Age:17 (Online App)

4. KFC – Age: 16 (Paper App)

5. McDonalds – Age: 15 9months (Paper/Online app)

6. Taco Bell – Age: 16 (Paper App)

7. Boston Market: Age:15 (Online App)

8. Chick Fil A – Age:14 (Paper App)

9. Toys R Us – Age: 16 (Online App)

10. CVS – Age: 16 (Online)

11. Wendy’s- Age: 16 (Paper App)

12. Target – Age: 16 (Online App)

13. Shop-Rite – Age: 16 (Online App)

14. Subway- Age:16 (Paper App)

15. Stop & Shop – Age: 16 (Online)

16. Wegmans – Age:18 (Online)

17. Chipotle – Age: 16 (Online)

18. Popeye’s – Age: 16 (Paper App)

19. Quiznos – Age: 16 (Paper App)

20. Lil Cesar’s – Age:16 (Paper/Online app)

21. Sonic – Age: 16 (Paper App)

22. What-A-Burger: Age: 16/17/18 (Paper/Online app)

23.Arby’s – Age:15/16 (Paper App)

24. Denny’s – Age: 16 (Paper/Online app)

25.GAP- Age: 16 (Paper App)

26. Cold Stone Creamery – Age: 16 (Online app)

27. Office Max- Age: 16 (Paper/Online app)

28. Office Depot – Age: 16 (Paper/ Online app)

29.Petco – Age:16 (Paper/Online App)

30. AMC 24 – Age: 16 (Online App)

31. Regal Cinemas – Age:16 (Online App)

32. Yogurtland – Age:16 (Paper App)

33. Dairy Queen – Age: 15/16 (Paper App)

34. Carvel Ice Parlor-Age:16 (Paper/Online app)

35. Party City – Age: 16 (Paper App)

36. Sears – Age: 16 (Online app)

37. K-Mart – Age: 16 (Online App)

38. Chuck E. Cheese – Age: 16 (Online App)

39. Amce – Age:16 (Online App)

40. JcPennys – Age: 16 (Online App)

41. Red Robin’s – Age: 18 (Paper/Online app)

42. Rita’s – Age: 15 (Paper / Online App)

43. Lowe’s – Age:18 (Online App)

44. Red Lobster – Age: 16 (Online App)

45. Olive Garden – Age : 16 (Paper App)

46. Publix – age 14 (in-store app)

As parents today, our job is harder than ever. We have so many obstacles raising our children. With all the outside influences, it can be difficult to raise wholesome and responsible children. We have to do our best and show our children our best everyday. They are watching not only what we say, but what we do.

Did you know that people who give back to their communities are wealthier and happier than people who do not? If you have ever listened to a financial counselor, advisor, or guru speak they all have one thing in common, they believe in giving back to their communities. Their methods maybe different; some tithe in church, some assist homeless people, and others contribute to charitable organizations.

You don’t have to be rich to give back to your community. There are plenty things you can do help better your community and the people in it. You can donate your time, you can donate your money, or you can donate material things that you believe may help another person.

My favorite way to give back to the community is to feed people who live on the streets. My family makes about 50 or so sack lunches and we hand them out. We go to an area where there are homeless shelters, usually downtown. I go to the grocery store and purchase brown paper bags, plastic sandwich bags, bread, lunch meat, chips and juice pouches. My family puts the lunches together. This is a great way to spend time together and to teach our children about humility. We talk to the homeless people, try to encourage them and give them a lunch. This usually cost us about $50 dollars every time we do it. I can tell you a million things that I have spent $50 dollars on that did not give me half the satisfaction of helping people. Seeing them helps me remember that we all have a purpose in life and it is up to us to figure out what that purpose is and how to fulfill it.

I also like to volunteer my time. My time is very valuable and sometimes an organization just needs a helping hand. There are shelters, churches, and other nonprofit organizations that cannot always afford to hire people to complete some of the most basic, but much-needed tasks. Contact a local organization and find out how you can help make a difference!

Financially contributing to organizations can be a great way to give back if you are unable to give your time. I suggest doing some research to find out what the organization specifically does with their funds prior to donating. But in all honestly, if you are giving from the kindness of your heart, it doesn’t matter what the organization does with the funds. If you have good intentions that is all that matters.

Having financial security is not only about having money, but also about how you are using the money you have. Be wise. In strengthening others, we too become empowered.

Moving, in my opinion, is always a fun new adventure to be had! It can also be a costly endeavor. I have moved more than the average citizen, due to military life. In this article, I will discuss how to move when you are on a budget.

First things first, do you know the new location you’re moving to? Are you familiar with the area, schools, cost of living, and overall lifestyle? If you are familiar with your new location, great, this will make your move easier and more than likely, you will settle in quickly. If you are not familiar with the new location take some time to research the area prior to your move.

Time to prepare for your move. Moving supplies can be costly depending on the size of the home that you are moving from. You can buy boxes at your local hardware store or multi-purpose stores like Walmart or Target. If you want to take the budget friendly route, you can go to the same local stores, including grocery stores, and ask the customer service representative if there are any boxes that you can have for free. Usually they are nice and will tell you when the store shipments come in and that’s when they will have boxes available for pick up. Purchasing a box of large, heavy-duty trash bags are another way to save money. You can pack soft items such as linen and clothes in the trash bags for short moves. I wouldn’t suggest this for long-distance moves because condensation may collect in the bags and cause mildew. You will also need tape for the boxes. You can rarely find it for free, but buying it in bulk at the hardware store is usually cheaper than buying it at the grocery store or your local shop.

The best thing that you can do for yourself, your family, and your budget, is to be prepared. I use a moving checklist. You can find them on Pinterest, Google, and many other sites.

Take your time. If you have knowledge of your move at least 3 months in advance, you have time to slowly purge items you no longer need or want and get things organized.

If you are renting a moving truck, check out different sites. Research different options, find out what size truck will best fit your needs and what price will best fit your budget.

Make your move simple, positive, and adventurous! Good luck on your new journey!

So I have a confession, I love to shop! But, who doesn’t? There is a way you can have the things you want and still live within your budget. If you are truly serious about securing your financial future, the first thing you have to learn is financial discipline. The hardest part is saying no, especially when there is something you want.

I have a weakness for clearance sales! When I see an item with a reduced price tag, something in my brain triggers. I start having racing thoughts; why do I need this item or how I can use it? I basically convince myself to buy the item.

There are ways that you can shop for the things you need and not break the bank. Buying clothes off season is cheaper than buying clothes in season. For my children, when clothing becomes deeply discounted (like a winter clothes sale in March), I like to purchase the next size up so that when my kids grow, they always have new clothes and I don’t have to rush out and buy regular priced clothing.

There are plenty of great stores to watch for off-season sales, also when they discontinue items. Walmart, Old Navy, (If you’re military, the Exchange), Target, Drjays.com, etc. You just have to do a little research to find out when these stores are getting rid of discontinued or off-season items.

Did you know there are places like hotels, rental centers, and banquet halls that have furniture, appliance, and other household item sales regularly? Call around, see if there are any happening near you!

Over time I have taught myself financial discipline by comparing the importance of things I may want now, to something that I want in the future. For example: A Coach purse is $200 dollars. You can buy it now and have a pretty $200 dollar purse sitting in your closet, or, you can take the $200 dollars and save it for the down payment on the house you plan to purchase in the future. The choice is yours, but remember, so is the consequence!

Couponing has helped my family survive hard times. When we didn’t have much money, we never had to worry about what the children would eat. One thing we never ran out of, was food. In this article, I’m going to teach you the basics of couponing and how to live in abundance while still living within your means.

Couponing is the new cash! You can save thousands of dollars a year using coupons for groceries. I am far from the greatest couponer of all time, but saving $4,000 in 2015 really helped my family get ahead financially.

Getting coupons is the easy part. You can get coupons by purchasing the Sunday newspaper at your local grocery store or gas station. If you would like to get coupons for free, there are lots of places where free coupons can be found. I’ve found them in magazines in doctors offices, laundromats, the free Pennysaver newspapers, coupons.com, Etc. Ask around, your friends, family members and co-workers may have coupons they are willing to give you.

Next, you need to do a little research. In order to be a successful couponer, you need to know when the new advertisement or sales start at your local stores. These ads can be found online (Flipp app) or in the Sunday paper along with coupons. Also, there is usually a small stand or kiosk at the entrance of the store that contains advertisements.

Once you have an idea of when the sales start and you have begun to collect coupons, you are ready to do some matchups. Examine the advertisement and find products that match the coupons you have. Be aware of the expiration date on the coupon and the date of the advertisement. Most store sales last only one or two weeks, it is pertinent you use your coupons in a timely manner.

Also make sure the coupon you are using specifically matches the item for sale. Mistakes can easily be made when couponing. Be sure to read the coupon in its entirety prior to use, some coupons have a limit of how many identical coupons can be used in one transaction. Some coupons have products size limits. You can locate a stores couponing policy online or at the customer service desk of the store. This will help you get a better understanding of the specific couponing regulations for each store.

You can store your coupons anyway that is easiest for you to retrieve them. I use a zip up binder. I separate my coupons with baseball card holders and dividers. I categorize the items how they are found in the grocery store, this is what’s easiest for me. You may find something else that works better for you.

I wish you luck on your first shopping trip! Don’t forget to be patient and understanding with cashiers and yourself. Couponing can not only be a great hobby, but also a great way to better your financial situation!